MOnuMENTA in the frame of the programme «Local Communities & Monuments» and in collaboration with the Municipality of Naxos and the Small Cyclades, organised the event «Pretty village harshly deformed», on Sunday 28th August at the traditional settlement of Filoti. A large number of citizens and visitors of Naxos participated in the 5th event, which was the last in a series of public-dialogue events, exploring problems encountered in the built and natural environment of the island and ways to counter them.

The event was dedicated to the 24 declared, traditional settlements, scattered on the island of Naxos that face serious problems of degradation and abandonment. The lectures of the archaeologists I. Gratsia and St. Lekakis and of the architects T. Bilis and M. Magnisali focused on the legal framework of protection and on the problems encountered.

Results of the public dialogue
The public dialogue that followed, even though the representatives of the responsible bodies of protection in the local and national level were absent, there was significant participation and a number of views and ideas were expressed. Synoptically:
• Common ground was that the traditional settlements of Naxos are heavily degraged.
• Even though legal framework is satisfactory the services responsible for its application are malfunctioning.
• The state Urban Planning Office is highly responsible for the problems encountered.
• Building has been commercialised.
• Civil engineers willing to abide by the law, face the denial of the local communities.
• Protection of each settlement is a unique case and should be treated as one.
• There is a need to raise awareness at a local level.
• There is a need to regenerate and protect the entrance points of the settlements, usually encroached by stores, gas stations et al.
• There is a need to use modern building materials, friendly to the environment.